The opinion was requested by the European Commission which will unveil on Wednesday, February the 23rd, its roadmap for a “decarbonised” energy system by 2050. 

“The EU must be clear on goals and instruments if it wants to be successful in its energy policy”, said Antonello Pezzini (Italy, Employers’ Group), rapporteur of the opinion. “It has to commit countries, regions, industry and other stakeholders to assume their responsibilities and oversee their performance.”

The EESC believes that over half of emission cuts by 2050 would come from energy efficiency measures, particularly in construction and transport. It banks on considerable technological progress that will pave the way for the widespread use of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles and less dependence on fossil fuels for heating and electricity production.

“The electricity sector needs a radical energy policy change. It has to become a priority”, said Mr Pezzini. Nuclear power plants should be upgraded in order to be ever more effective and the share of renewables in electricity generation must grow. This can only be achieved if the EU and Member States succeed in wooing businesses into investing in low-carbon technologies. Countries have to support and facilitate the launching of pilot projects, especially in the area of carbon capture and storage technologies that make it possible to trap CO2 and store it.

The EU must strive towards establishing a global market for low-carbon technologies in which it should have a leading role, said the EESC. “In 2050 the European population will be little more than 6% of the world population so we need to ensure that our principles are strengthened and embraced globally”, said Mr Pezzini. He also called for a rapid enhancement of emission-exchange mechanisms. 

The EESC came out in favour of continuing research into nuclear fusion technology. Whilst acknowledging that the technology was still in its infancy and remained at an experimental stage, the Committee noted that it offered “the prospect of a long-term, safe and environmentally benign energy option to meet the energy needs of a growing world population”.

The EESC also reminded its recent opinion in which it had urged the Commission to aim at an ambitious goal of 25% emission cuts by 2020. The Commission’s paper on the roadmap for a “decarbonised” energy system by 2050 is expected to follow that recommendation. It is due to be unveiled on Wednesday.